Ogunegbeonwan: The Wise King
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There’s a popular saying in the land of Inib that keeps everyone on its toes. It says the palace may be located in a place, but the extra alphabet contained in it makes it a sacred place. It is often spelled for emphasis at the entrance as the King’s P-A-LACE is not an ordinary PLACE but a place to pay A-ttention.
Long time ago in the land of Inib, a young child, Ogunegbeonwan was chosen by the oracle of the land to succeed his father who just joined his ancestors in a peaceful. The mouth piece of the king, Esamgba would announce to the public who would succeed the late king, Uzzakpo, the Ikpakperan I.
The ceremony that would lead to the internment of the Uzzakpo, the monarch of Inib would require the pubic hairs of a virgin girl and the menstrual blood stained cloth from a widow who becomes bound to the spirit of Uzzakpo, a link between the living and the dead. They are usually chosen from a set of seven widows who volunteer themselves for a particular ritual and cleansing ceremony. This ceremony culminates in the choosing of the widow whose menstrual flow will be used. It is usually considered an honour laden with human respect across the land of Inib.
After the successful burial of Uzzakpo, the king makers, the Otamere’s will commence the rituals to install Ogunegbeonwan as the new Uzzakpo. He would take the name Ikpakperan ni Ekpe. After all the rituals, he was declared king under a colorful ceremony that would leave one with colorful memories to reminisce on. It was like a prophecy fulfilled. The land of Inib now has a king who believes in justice and fairness of all. The people love the new Uzzakpo and supported his judgment.
The new king immediately revoked the powers of the community chiefs known as Ekpogie’s who are in charge of lands in various communities within the land of Inib. However, this would not go well with one of the chiefs, Dr. Ojogoro who lives in Ugo. He felt he was more educated than the king and called the King’s decree bluff. He continued in his act of tyranny on land issues even when the new Uzzakpo, Ogunegbeonwan, Ikpakperan ni Ekpen sent words to him to stop presiding over land issues. He renegade the Uzzakpo’s orders until he was summoned to the palace. Although, they were others who were acting in like manner but respected the crown when they got the message by sending the Ewere leave as a sign of peace back to the palace. The Ekpogie of Ikpoba hills, Etete, Osemwende and Oka complied to the directives of Uzzakpo, but Dr. Ojogoro remained adamant. They were all summoned to the palace.
While others appeared before the Uzzakpo with their respective ‘Ewere’ Leaves kneeling down before the Uzzakpo for forgiveness, Dr. Ojogoro will not kneel down neither did he come with any ‘Ewere’ leaves. As he tried to lift his hands before the Uzzakpo, Ogunegbeonwan, Ikpakperan ni Ekpen, he was immobilized by the palace warriors who are trained in special arts of Wizardry. He was searched as his native attire, a turquoise colored top was removed from his body.
Immediately this was done, some powerful charms, ekhuae, and akpalode fell from his pocket. With this in sight, irreversible curses, numbering twenty were placed on him on him and a declaration as “oghion Uzzakpo” was chanted as he was escorted out of the palace. He failed the ultimate lesson which is A-TTENTION in the P-A-LACE.
Peace returned to the land of Ugo and the wisdom of the Uzzakpo spread abroad even to ICCOBA ’97 Set WhatsApp platform. Dr. Ojogoro never returned to Ugo and his whereabout remains uncertain. Only time will tell his concluding tale.
Opia-Enwemuche Maxwell Onyemaechi
©22-08-2017
*Ekpogie’s (writer’s coinage) is a word used to describe community chiefs appointed by the Uzzakpo
**Ekhuae is used to harm one’s opponents or better still, those against one in a gathering. It is often used to useless one’s opposition like the itagba used in some parts of the old Bendel State in Nigeria.
***Akpalode is used to make a man impotent in thoughts and words that he can’t judge against or oppose one who’s guilty in a particular matter.
PS: All rights reserved. All characters and scenes in this piece are fiction and no person dead or alive is referred to.
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